Speed humps: Council okays Traffic Safety Committee recommendations

December 12, 2003

ByPeggy Kelly

Santa Paula City Council

Some city streets in residential areas will soon see a new addition: speed humps to slow drivers traveling too fast for safety.

By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesSome city streets in residential areas will soon see a new addition: speed humps to slow drivers traveling too fast for safety. Rejected was a request to have a series of speed humps around the intersection of Teague Drive and La Vuelta Place.The City Council approved the recommendation that several streets be targeted for speed humps after study was completed by the city’s Traffic Safety Committee.The Traffic Safety Committee meets to suggest the most practical means for coordinating the activities of all officers and agencies of the city having authority to the administration and enforcement of traffic regulations, order and assist in traffic reports and receive complaints about traffic issues. Members of the committee also make recommendations on how to improve traffic conditions in the city.Responding to requests and complaints, the Traffic Safety Committee studied three areas.A stop sign or speed hump had been requested at Ventura Street and Yale Court, a request that was granted when the committee found safety and road alignment issues near the intersection. Although the intersection fell short of the speed qualifications for a speed hump, the street is narrow with parking on both sides, has essentially one lane for driving and contains a “jog” in the road at the intersection.

“There are visibility problems due to parked cars and the job and the speeds are high for an essentially one lane road,” reported Public Works Director City Engineer Cliff Finley.The 700 block of Virginia Terrace was the scene of a speed study that led to the approval of a speed hump mid-block when it was learned that about 85 percent of drivers travel over 33 mph on the street.Six speed humps were requested for the intersection area of Teague Drive and La Vuelta Place.“This is not a typical intersection,” as the streets merge into one the westerly direction.A speed study found that the 85 percent of drivers watch their speedometers and only travel at 22 mph in the area so the request for the speed humps was denied.